Hybrid and N Fertilization Affect Corn Silage Yield and Quality

We determined the effect of N fertilization on dry matter (DM) yield, predicted milk yield, and forage quality of fresh (green chopped) and ensiled forage of two brown midrib (BMR) hybrids, a leafy hybrid, and a conventional silage hybrid. Increasing N rates from 0 to 200 kg ha−1 increased corn grain, stover and whole plant DM yield and milk yield. The forage yield and quality response to N was similar for all hybrids. Nitrogen fertilization increased forage crude protein (CP) concentration but had little effect on other forage quality components. BMR hybrids, F377 and F657, had the lowest grain, stover and whole plant yield but had the highest digestibility and predicted milk yield Mg−1 of forage. Predicted milk yield ha−1 was similar for the BMR, leafy and conventional hybrids. Ensiling reduced starch concentration compared with green chopped forage, but effects on other forage quality variables were less consistent. Hybrid and N fertilization affects were similar for green chopped and ensiled corn forage.